Big news in Formula 1: the Cadillac team is officially joining the grid in 2026. After years of lobbying, Mario Andretti—yes, that Mario Andretti, the 1978 world champ—has finally helped secure a spot for the American powerhouse in the premier class of four-wheeled racing. The rumor mill is now buzzing about who they might want to lead this team into its new era.

And a certain four-time world champion could be on Andretti and Cadillac’s radar. And let’s just say, Verstappen’s manager isn’t exactly pouring cold water on the idea of a switch.

Max Verstappen’s manager puts Red Bull on notice

Before we dive into all the Verstappen-to-Cadillac speculation, let’s take a look at what’s going down with Max and his current team, Red Bull. Despite winning his fourth title this year, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The RB20, once a dominant beast, took a surprising dip mid-season, forcing Max to fight tooth and nail to keep rivals like McLaren’s Lando Norris at bay. He clinched the championship with a fifth-place finish in Vegas, but the cracks were starting to show.

And Max’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, isn’t hiding his frustration. Speaking exclusively to RacingNews365, he sent a clear message to Red Bull: they need to step up. “If he has the material, he will execute his job, but in the end, a lot can happen,” Vermeulen said. “Max wants to have the best performance package for the moment. We have four championships here. We are loyal to Red Bull, but of course, we want to keep going, and we need a competitive package. We will see where the performance is. Max wants to have to best performance package for the moment. ”

Translation? Red Bull better get their act together, or Verstappen might start exploring his options. Although the team has the Driver’s Championship, they missed out on the Constructors title. Sergio Perez’s struggles were heightened with the RB20’s problems.

It wasn’t the first time Max Verstappen’s camp hinted at unhappiness with Red Bull. The season was filled with rumors about Verstappen’s exit, potentially heading to Aston Martin or even Mercedes. With Adrian Newey leaving the team and the drama surrounding Christian Horner, Max Verstappen and his father Jos were rumored to be uncomfortable with the unrest within the team.

Enter Mario Andretti. During an exclusive chat with GPblog, the Cadillac F1 director couldn’t stop gushing about Max Verstappen’s talent. “He didn’t have it very easy by any means. You could see that as a driver, he made the difference, no question, even compared to his teammate,” Andretti said. “He’s something special—a special, special talent that doesn’t come along very often.” When asked if Verstappen would be a dream signing for the new Cadillac team, Andretti didn’t mince words. “Yes!” he declared.

It’s been a long and winding road for Andretti to finally join the Formula 1 grid. The journey began with bold aspirations in 2023 when Andretti Global partnered with General Motors under the Cadillac brand to submit an entry for the 2026 season. Despite initial optimism, the proposal faced pushback from Formula 1’s commercial arm, even though the FIA gave its approval. The rejection was a bitter pill, especially given the Andretti name’s storied history in motorsport, with Mario Andretti himself being a former F1 world champion in 1978.

Unwilling to back down, the Andretti-Cadillac project doubled down on its efforts. The team opened state-of-the-art facilities in the U.S. and a UK satellite base, conducted rigorous wind tunnel testing, and made high-profile hires, including ex-F1 CTO Pat Symonds. Political pressure also mounted in the United States, with lawmakers questioning F1’s decision to block the entry. This relentless push, coupled with Michael Andretti stepping back to let business partner Dan Towriss take the reins, ultimately helped pave the way for their inclusion.

What’s next for Max and Red Bull?

It’s no secret that 2024 was a rocky year for Red Bull and Max Verstappen. Things started out strong—Verstappen dominated the first five races, and it looked like business as usual. But by mid-season, the tide began to turn. McLaren and Ferrari closed the gap, and Red Bull found themselves scrambling to keep up. “At one point, it felt like we were a little bit lost,” Max admitted.

Red Bull managed to claw back some performance toward the end of the year, especially after a critical floor upgrade in Austin. But it wasn’t enough to quiet the questions about their future competitiveness. And with Adrian Newey now working his magic over at Aston Martin, Red Bull’s monopoly on innovation might be slipping. Verstappen, meanwhile, is keeping his options open. Mercedes is always lurking in the background, and Aston Martin’s new resources make them a tempting prospect. With Honda on board and a facility worth more than $200 million in the UK, Lawrence Stroll’s team is certainly an option.

And then there’s Cadillac. With Mario Andretti steering the ship, Cadillac is looking to make a big splash, and Verstappen would certainly fit the bill. Andretti seems to have a vision for his new team: pair Verstappen with a rising American star like Colton Herta. “We’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Global, the company behind Cadillac’s F1 entry.

Verstappen is signed with Red Bull until 2028, but as his manager Vermeulen pointed out, “Max is in the peak of his career.” The last few years defined Max Verstappen as an all-time great. After going head-to-head against Lewis Hamilton in 2021, the Flying Dutchman won 2 more championships. In 2023, he set the record for most wins in a season, with 19 victories from 23 races.

And while it is a longshot, if Mario Andretti gets his way, it might also be the start of a blockbuster cross-continental partnership with one of the greatest drivers of this generation.